Valve



mammals Dec. 7, 1937 A. E. KETTNICH VALVE Filed March 2, 1936 a Q l B 8I 7. M11 1 E Patented Dec. 7, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

The invention broadly concerns valves.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a steam radiatorvalve which will not only control the pressure of said steamautomatically,

5 but will also act as a humidifier.

Another object is to simplify its construction so that there may befewer parts which may be easily assembled at a lower cost.

A still further object is to manufacture a valve 10 of comparativelyrugged construction which will never require adjustment and which ispractically indestructible.

Other objects of this invention will appear as we proceed with thespecification that will be 15 more particularly pointed out in theclaims.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment of the inventionillustrated in the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a view of my device in use with a conventional steam radiator.

20 Fig. 2 is a sectional view of my valve on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the parts shown in a differentposition.

A tubular casing l is closed at the top by a cap 25 2 and is fixed atits lower end to an elbow 3, having a threaded connection to a radiator4. Centrally of the cap 2 is an elongated sleeve indicated generally bythe numeral 5 which may be screwed into the cap as by threads 6. Theupper 30 end of the sleeve is formed with a nut l, and has alongitudinal hole 8 therein extending vertically. The lower portion ofthe sleeve has a bore 9 caxial with the hole 8 but of a somewhat largerdiameter.

35 A valve stem Ill, provided with spheres or ball members i l and I2,is located in the bore 9 so as to coact with the double valve seat l3.The ball l2 is at the lowermost end of the stem I!) while the ball l lis located approximately midway of its 0 ends, and is confined withinthe bore 9.

The double valve seat l3 surrounds the lower portion of the stem l0between the ball check valves II and I2 and has a fixed press fitconnection in the hollow lower portion of the valve sup- 45 port orsleeve 5. The valve seat I3 is also provided with a vertical hole I4,slightly larger than the stem Ill and with top and bottom valve seats land [6, respectively. Near the bottom seat I6 is a vent I1, the purposeof which will appear from 50 the operation of my improved radiatorvalve,

which is as follows:

Ordinarily when a radiator is turned off and begins to cool, the air inthe room will enter thru its valve and help in the formation of moisture55 within the radiator through the condensation of the steam. Theinstant the steam pressure is shut ofi in a radiator equipped with myimproved valve so that the pressure in the radiator approximates that ofthe room, my valve will assume the position shown in Fig. 2. The ball II5 will seat itself automatically on the seat [5 effectively sealing thesteam in the radiator from direct contact with the air outside. Thiswill allow a very gradual condensation of the steam, the water ofcourse, being gradually returned to 10 the boiler and the radiatorcooling very gradually. When the steam is again turned on, the air inthe radiator will be at less than atmospheric pressure. With theincrease in pressure due to the steam, the air may escape through thehole M by fluttering the ball H on its seat I5. When the steam pressurehas increased a predetermined amount, the ball H, fixed on the stem I0,will be lifted off its seat and raised to the position shown in Fig. 3.The ball [2 will now seat itself on I6 effectively sealing the hole l4,against the escape of any large amount of steam, and will be kept inthis position by the steam pressure in the radiator. However, a certainamount of steam is allowed to escape into the room to keep the air moistthrough the very small opening I1. It may be noted that the ball valvesare very slightly smaller in circumference than the opening 9. I findthat a difference in diameter of one sixtyfourth of an inch is veryeffective and causes the closing of the valve at the proper time.

The valve itself is constructed of only three very simple and sturdyparts, very readily assembled and inserted into the average valvehousing now in use. It constitutes a very simple humidifier and may bemanufactured at a very low price.

While the drawing discloses preferred embodiments of the invention,numerous changes and alterations may be made without departing from 40the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not limit myself to thesequence of steps described nor to the particular means shown, but claimmy invention as broadly as the state of the art permits.

I claim:

1. A radiator valve, including a hollow body portion defining a chamber,a cap closing the same, a vertical sleeve projecting through said capinto said chamber, a plug closing the lower sleeve end and provided witha vertical bore, a seat on the lower and upper ends of said plug aboutthe bore, a stem adapted to move in said bore and carrying a pair ofvalves of greater d ameter than said bore adapted to coact with 5 saidseats, and a vent between said seats leading from said bore to saidchamber to establish constant atmospheric communication for said chamberupon the upper valve being open.

2. A radiator valve, including a hollow body portion defining a chamber,a cap closing the same, a vertical sleeve projecting through said capand in threaded engagement therewith, said sleeve projecting into saidchamber and conimunicating with the atmosphere, a plug closing the lowersleeve end' and provided with a vertical bore, said plug having a seaton the lower and upper ends about said bore, a pair of connected valvesmovable to coact with said'seats, and a vent in said plug between saidseats providing communication between the chamber and. the atmospherewhen the lower valve seat is closed.

ALBERT E. KEI'INICH.

